In a candid new interview with Rolling Stone, filmmaker Rian Johnson shed light on his long-rumored Star Wars trilogy—confirming that while discussions with Lucasfilm were enthusiastic, the project never progressed beyond early conceptual talks.
The Knives Out director, who helmed 2017’s divisive The Last Jedi, explained that after wrapping the film, he and Kathleen Kennedy explored ideas for a new trilogy. However, the explosive success of Knives Out (2019) shifted his focus entirely. “Nothing really happened with it,” Johnson admitted. “We kicked ideas around, but it was all very conceptual—no outline, no treatment. Then ‘Knives Out’ happened, and I got busy making murder mysteries.”
While Johnson emphasized he’d “be thrilled” to return to Star Wars someday, he’s currently immersed in his own projects, including the Knives Out franchise and the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man. His comments echo 2022 remarks where he expressed sadness at potentially never revisiting the galaxy far, far away, praising Star Wars fans’ “extraordinary” passion despite the polarized reception to The Last Jedi.
The revelation puts to rest years of speculation about Johnson’s trilogy, which was initially announced in 2017 but lingered in development limbo. With Lucasfilm now prioritizing films by James Mangold (Dawn of the Jedi) and Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian & Grogu), Johnson’s return seems unlikely—at least until Benoit Blanc solves his next case.
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